Colombo telecom tower to cost US $90-mn

Colombo: An iconic telecom tower to be built in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo may cost about 10 billion rupees (92 million US dollars) and the government wants to make it a private-public partnership, an official said.

The government has said the tower could be used by television, radio and telecom firms to transmit signals.

Dharmasiri de Alwis, network chief of Sri Lanka's Telecommunications Regulatory Commission says parties that are interested in using the tower would be called for a meeting this month.

The proposed 250 metre tall telecom tower would be built in Peliyagoda at the northern edge of Colombo, on a two acre plot of land belonging to the State Engineering Corporation.

It would have two revolving restaurants and public viewing galleries.

The government also wants to develop the areas around the tower, de Alwis said.

The government is hoping to wrap up the project in 18 months, he said.